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NATAL MIDLANDS
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Midlands, KwaZulu Natal: The Natal Midlands is the lush farmland area stretching
from the foothills of the majestic Drakensberg in the
west, to the sunny Natal Coast in the east. Numerous rivers make their way through the
Natal Midlands towards the warm Indian Ocean and there are many indigenous forests in the
region. The main attraction is the renowned arts and crafts trail, the Midlands
Meander. |
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NATAL MIDLANDS DESTINATIONS
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  Balgowan: North of
Howick, in the central part of the Midlands Meander
that lies between Nottingham Road
and Lidgetton,
lies Balgowan, one of the most beautiful parts of the country with weather that invariably
rolls all four seasons into one, but which gives your visit an element of mystery that
makes ... more » Balgowan Info |
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 Boston: The little town of Boston is
barely distinguishable in its own right. Rather it is linked to Bulwer in what has
recently become known as the Boston-Bulwer Beat, just over an hour’s drive from
Durban in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. The beat links Boston, Bulwer and
parts of the Dargle ... more » Boston Info |
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 Curry's Post: Curry’s Post is a
beautifully scenic area in the heart of the Midlands Meander that lies between Mooi
River and Howick. It has a quaint
history that involves the Curry Family, after whom Curry’s Post is named, who settled
here, establishing an overnight wagon and cart stop - in essence a ... more » Curry's
Post Info |
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 Dargle: The Dargle Valley and
conservancy area is set in the midst of the Midlands Meander in the rolling foothills of
the Southern Drakensberg - a land of magic waterfalls, river gorges, grassland, indigenous
forest, wild flowers and wetlands; home to a variety of bird species and a major
attraction ... more » Dargle Info |
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 Greytown: Often referred to as the
‘jewel of KwaZulu-Natal,
Greytown lies in the forest-clad, rolling hills of the Natal Midlands, a picturesque
little town originally settled during the 1850s and subsequently awash with buildings of
note, scenic drives and Boer history. Greytown originally enjoyed ... more » Greytown Info |
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 Hilton: The distinctly English country
village of Hilton with its attractive sense of history lies only 10 kilometres from
Pietermaritzburg at the start of the Midlands Meander. Its beginnings originated in the
purchase of a large portion of the farm Ongegund in 1857 by Joseph Henderson, whose wife
... more » Hilton
Info |
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 Karkloof: Karkloof is a beautiful range
of hills stretching for over 50 kilometres between Rietvlei, Curry’s Post
and Howick
in the Midlands of Natal. This area includes a steep, flat-topped kloof and an extensive
range of mist belt forests, home to the Karkloof blue Orachrysops ariadne - a small, blue
butterfly ... more » Karkloof Info |
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 Lidgetton: Right in Lidgetton is the
historical building of St Matthews, definitely worth a visit, whilst local trout fishing
in dams and rivers around the Kamberg - about 30
minutes from Lidgetton - is reputed to be excellent. The Caversham Valley provides horse
riding opportunities, whilst ... more » Lidgetton
Info |
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 Lions River: The little hamlet of Lions
River lies between Lidgetton and Howick
right in the heart of the Natal midlands about
an hour’s drive from Durban; a tiny modest ‘if you blink you might miss it’
village, with not much beyond a trading store to lure you to stop. But Lions River is a
lot more than ... more » Lions River
Info |
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 Pietermaritzburg: Shady, tree-lined
suburbs, spacious red brick bungalows and upper-crust boarding schools reinforce the
colonial ambiance of "The Last Outpost of the British Empire" as
Pietermaritzburg is affectionately known. The city has a wide range of shops, hotels and
restaurants ... more » Pietermaritzburg
Info |
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 Howick: Named after the English home of
colonial secretary Earl Grey, the village was initially built in response to the needs of
early 19th century wagon-drivers and transport riders who crossed the strong Mgeni River
en route to the hinterland. By 1851, however, Howick had evolved into a 'favourite ...
more » Howick
Info |
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 Ixopo: Ixopo is the main centre of the
Southern Midlands and forms part of an important sugar farming, and forestry area.
Although originally called 'Stuartstown', the original Zulu name 'Ixopo' has prevailed.
This charming town is not a major tourism 'hub' which makes it particularly attractive to
those ... more » Ixopo Info |
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 Mooi River: Mooi River is a farming and
textile centre originally named Lawrenceville after the Irish farmer who formalised its
settlement during the 1800s. The village took its name from the Voortrekker description of
its river - "mooi" translates as pretty. In Zulu, however, the river is Mpofana,
meaning ... more » Mooi River Info |
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 Nottingham Road is a village easily reached from the N3 between Johannesburg
and Durban, only 20 minutes from the foothills of the Drakensberg. The landscape here is
truly the green rolling hills of Natal, dotted with fly-fishing dams and an ordered beauty
that has earned Nottingham Road its ... more » Nottingham Road Info |
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 Rosetta is one of those little villages that, until recently, would have
been relegated to a passing glance as you drove through it, on the way to elsewhere.
Originally the area was dominated by the Rosetta Farm, granted by the Crown in 1861, and
the village possibly resulted from the colonial ... more » Rosetta Info |
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 Wartburg: This little piece of Germany
is surrounded by hamlets of definitive origin - Harburg, Kirchdorf, New Hanover,
Lillienthal, Schroeders and Hermannsburg. Wartburg itself is named after the castle in
Eisenach where Dr Martin Luther translated the bible into German...and the village crest
also ... more » Wartburg Info |
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NATAL MIDLANDS ATTRACTIONS
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| MIDLANDS
MEANDER |
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 Midlands
Meander: The enchantment of the Midlands has long inspired many a
visitor and resident to creativity and as a result, local artists, potters and weavers
combined to create an arts and crafts route in 1985, which was to become the highly
successful and popular Midlands Meander. The route stretches ... more
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 The Rose @ Tamakwa serves a 4 course set menu, which varies nightly and
resident chef, Jonathan Crawford, will titivate, captivate and stimulate your taste buds.
Jonathan's style incorporates both South African and international influences. To support
and enhance the food, they have a ... more » Tamakwa Country Lodge |
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 Kamberg is known for its excellent fly fishing and recently a Bushman Rock
Art Site has been opened to the public. The Kamberg Nature Reserve nestles in the
foothills of the Drakensberg Park, its central position ideal for visits to many other
well known Drakensberg areas, from Giants Castle ... more » Kamberg Nature Reserve |
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 Bosch Hoek Golf
& Country Estate in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque
layouts in the country. The estate is conveniently positioned at Balgowan near Howick,
just a four hour drive from Johannesburg or a leisurely one and a half hour drive from
Durban. The ... more » Bosch Hoek Golf Course |
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| THE
BOSTON-BULWER BEAT |
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| The Boston-Bulwer Beat is a tourism
association, which promotes the areas surrounding these South African villages. Boston and
Bulwer are located in the foothills of the Drakensberg, amidst rolling hills, lush forests
and tranquil lakes and dams, it is an ideal destination for those seeking peace and quiet
and good country fare. |
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| MIDMAR
DAM NATURE RESERVE |
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 The large stretch of fresh water from the
uMngeni, coupled with 1000 hectares of game park that contains red hartebeest, blesbok,
reedbuck, black wildebeest, oribi and zebra, is what makes the Midmar Dam Nature Reserve
so attractive. And the fact that it’s just 7 kilometres from ... more » Midmar Dam |
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| ALBERT
FALLS DAM NATURE RESERVE |
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 There are tracts
of mixed woodland, giving way to open grassland, as well as small marsh areas. In wet
seasons, rank grass patches attract numerous wetland and grassland birds such as widows,
weavers, waxbills and cisticolas. The Dam provides endless scope for sailing, canoeing and
... more » Albert Falls Dam |
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| KARKLOOF
CLASSIC MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL |
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 The Karkloof
Classic MTB Festival is the largest MTB festival in South Africa, with three days of
awesome riding, innovative tracks, great entertainment and a country atmosphere in the
picturesque Karkloof Valley outside Howick.
From the awesome tracks through to the amazing ... more » Karkloof
Classic Mountain Bike Festival |
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« KwaZulu Natal Game &
Nature Reserves | South Africa Game
Reserves » |
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